Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

DS needs to quit Beavers because I can’t do sew 😥

70 replies

RocketJoy · 09/12/2019 23:26

Well obviously he’s not really quitting. He loves it and hasn’t long started. I have 8 badges to sew on so made a start tonight and after almost two hours I have...drum roll...ONE badge properly secured and even then I think it’s slightly in wrong place 😭

How on earth do you actually sew a bloody badge onto a jumper?! On the sleeves?! The material keeps getting in way and how do you make it straight. To be fair to myself the ONE badge I did manage looks not half bad but for 45mins work it should do eh (and I’ll pretend it’s not in the wrong place!) The other time was spent sewing then unpicking a second badge which was a disaster and lots of googling for help (found nothing!)

He’ll just have to quit - the shame. Do people actually sew!? I have never done it or had a need (except school trousers but my MIL did those for me Xmas Blush) HELP - any tips?!

OP posts:
MintChocAddict · 09/12/2019 23:28

Badge glue is your friend Wink

HerRoyalNotness · 09/12/2019 23:29

I took mine to the laundrette and they did them Blush. I think they’re supposed to do it themselves so if it looks rubbish just say “he tried his best, bless him”

Sycamoretrees · 09/12/2019 23:29

Ask MIL to sew them on?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Art & design
LatinforTelly · 09/12/2019 23:30

You don't! You buy Bostick Sew Simple glue and stick them on. After a few washes the front of the badges might start to peel off a bit so you just stick them back down with more glue. My son's have lasted his whole time at cubs.

You can get it at Sainsbury's or probably Amazon. (I do sew a bit but badges take forever.)

Ariela · 09/12/2019 23:35

Find a piece of cardboard, fairly thick, and cut a strip to fit inside the sleeve. this will stop you sewing through all layers and thus rendering the sleeve useless.

Find a largeish safety pin, and use this to pin the badge in place where you want it. If a big badge use two. You may have to place the bottom of the pin on a firm surface and push it through all layers of the badge, but it'll eventually go through, then secure the safety pin. Using safety pins means you do not stab yourself when sewing on.

Then sew badge on. the card keeps the other side of the sleeve away from your sewing.

If said child is competent enough with fiddly things, teaching how to sew them on would be a good thing to do.

ShinyGiratina · 09/12/2019 23:36

I use embroidery thread and a thick needle with large eye and pick the colour to match the trim. The standard badges are usually OK to scoop the threads on the edge of the trim and pass the thread about 1cm along the badge for the next stitch. It is easier at the top of the sleeve though compared to the cuff. Pin the badge in place when starting. There are youtube videos showing how.

The problem with glue is that either the badges peel off or stick on too firmly so they are hard to transfer to a blanket/ next stage of uniform, and the jumper can be ruined for passing on.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 09/12/2019 23:37

2 hours? That doesn't seem right ! Although tbf I did art textiles at school so

PixieDustt · 09/12/2019 23:39

I tried to avoid it at all costs. I'm no seamstress but I can sew a button on or see up a rip. I only learnt because I had too! My mum said one day when I was a teen If you want it done I'll show you but you're doing it yourself. Fair enough. Taught me a lesson. Can't say I was too pleased when I was a teen though 😂

PixieDustt · 09/12/2019 23:39

Sew*

RubixCubix · 09/12/2019 23:45

Use pins to fix the badge in the correct position. Have one hand inside the jumper. Push the needle through from one hand to the other, going in and out.

Honestly it gets easier the more you do and as long as it holds and is in vaguely the right place, it really doesn't matter.

I have 40 badges to unpick then re-sew on his new shirt as he has out grown his old one Confused

riotlady · 09/12/2019 23:46

Wunda Webb!

Belindabelle · 09/12/2019 23:47

I have had 2 boys go through Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.

Badge glue to hold them in position then I put a few stitches round the outside. Make sure you don't use glue on any temporary badges as these have to be removed.

Make sure you buy the uniform in a larger size as you don't want to remove all the badges to put on to a different jumper\shirt after a year.

Binglebong · 09/12/2019 23:49

Go to Boyes habidashery dept. Ask their advice. I'd suggest using an iron on to fix it in place then sew on the edges. But seriously, ask advice in person.

kazza446 · 09/12/2019 23:50

I feel your pain. Sewing wasn’t my forte. It took me hours of swearing and cussing to get them all sewn on. Then I realised I had put them on the opposite sides to which they were meant to be. Unstitched them all and tried glue but that was rubbish too. Glad they left shortly after that 🤣

Belindabelle · 09/12/2019 23:50

Yes RubixCubix that happened to me once. Never again. After that I bought the biggest size and they rolled the sleeves up!

EsmeeMerlin · 09/12/2019 23:50

I take the jumper and badges to my Nan who sews them on for me.
Blush

But a few of the parents from my son’s group use glue which works well.

neonglow · 09/12/2019 23:51

When I was in brownies my mum just used the wonder web stuff and an iron. No needles required!

ShinyDolphin · 09/12/2019 23:56

Would hemming web work? You know the fabric tape stuff that you use the iron on when hemming trousers?

Original poster
RocketJoy · 09/12/2019 23:57

Oh thank you all!!

I’m thinking I need to use the jumper we out aside as it was too large now then Xmas Grin Current one is a nice fit but doesn’t have loads of growing room and I hadn’t quite factored in the need to remove and reset badges!!

Thanks for all who can tips for sewing. I’ll read in detail tomorrow as I do oddly want to leave to do properly (and maybe be able to do own hemming etc since MIL can’t really do much sewing anymore ... and you know because I’m suppose to be an adult and a parent so maybe I do actually need that skill Blush).

I’m liking the glue tips. I’d read you shouldn’t use as it ruins the badges for keeping(?) Would the wonderweb stuff work then??

I feel like if I manage this I deserve a badge myself (though a sticker would be preferable so I don’t gave to sew Xmas Wink)

I’ll also remember the tip to say my DS sewed them himself! Though do any 6 year olds sew?? Am
I going to be put to shame by skilled 6 year old sewers?!

OP posts:
AnnoyingSatsumaInMyStocking · 09/12/2019 23:58

Ask the leader whether there is anyone that sees on badges in return for a contribution to the group funds.

OhMsBeliever · 09/12/2019 23:59

I'm bloody useless at sewing and I've had 4 boys go through/currently in scouting and I'm a leader!
I got invested earlier this year and only sewed my own badges on last month. Blush It takes me a long time.

I did try the badge glue once, but they came off and it left a horrible residue. So I can't even do sticking either.

Derbee · 09/12/2019 23:59

I would ask MIL to sew them on for you!

Original poster
RocketJoy · 10/12/2019 00:01

I apparently can’t type anymore either. Sorry for the errors above. I might try the wonderweb tomorrow...what’s the worst that can happen?? I just don’t have a spare 7 hours (going by my speed!) between now and his meeting on Wednesday!

OP posts:
AnnoyingSatsumaInMyStocking · 10/12/2019 00:01

Otherwise, my tip is to position a drinks coaster inside the jersey underneath the badge, your needle will slide against it to pop out again. Wooden or hard shiny coasters work best.

RubixCubix · 10/12/2019 00:01

Belinda belle believe it or not this shirt was down to 10 year old DS's knees when I bought it. However after this summer's growth spurt, my now 12 year old boy can hardly tuck it in and can't do the cuff buttons up, as they are mid-forearm! Strangely it still has plenty room width wise. He's just got very long!